When their mouths touched, there was no room for anything else in his mind except Rey.
The feel of her firm lips on his, the touch of her hands on his cheeks, the confidence with which she kissed him. She knew what she wanted, what he wanted, and she wasn't afraid to take it.
Her tongue urged his mouth open and without hesitation took full possession.
Her hands slipped into his hair and pulled him closer, and he instinctively put his arms around her and tugged her close.
The air around them swelled and he could feel his body hum with the power of his emotions.
This… he thought, This is what I want. This is what I've always wanted. What I need.
He felt her hope and her warmth pierce through walls he had erected years ago. Light exploded in him, and he had never felt so alive.
A low moan escaped her and she pressed herself even closer.
He clung to her as if she were his lifeline.
His body trembled and he recognized the desire now. He needed to be with her.
He grabbed her butt, lifted her to her toes and squeezed. Her head snapped back and she gasped. He caught her lower lip between his teeth and gently sucked on it, laving it with his tongue.
He squeezed her ass again and she let out a low, guttural groan that tore his sanity apart.
She captured his mouth again with passion and determination. Her hands fisted in his hair
He could feel her need across their Bond. She wanted him. No one else.
A flood of emotions and sensations washed over him, and he felt overwhelmed.
He broke the kiss abruptly.
His breath came in short bursts and he rested his forehead against hers.
He felt her confusion through their bond.
His voice was raspy when he spoke.
"I can't do this anymore." He said as he closed his eyes.
The words slashed through Rey, and she imagined this must have been what Snoke had felt when the lightsaber cut him in half.
"What?" she said as she stumbled back.
Ben grabbed her wrists to keep her from running.
"Rey…" he all but whispered, his gaze locking with hers. The look in his eyes was so intense, that a lesser person would have cringed or have been terrified. Rey, however, merely felt that same intensity echo in her soul.
"I can't do this anymore." His eyes bore into hers. "Not like this. I can't…" his voice trailed off and he inhaled deeply, trying to control himself.
"I need to see you." He said heatedly. Her face scrunched up in confusion.
"I need to see you in person, Rey." He continued quickly. "I need to touch you – Really touch you - not through our Bond. I want to be able to feel the softness of your skin and the callouses on your hands. I want to actually taste your lips instead of this whisper of a ghostlike flavor."
Those little muscles underneath his eyes were ticking again, he was clenching his teeth, and she could feel his desperation. She understood. Because she felt the same way.
"I can't keep doing it this way. I've never…"
He stared into her eyes and couldn't bring himself to say the words, not even through their Bond.
But she knew.
She pulled one of her hands from his grasp, reached up and brushed at a lock of hair that hung in his eyes.
"Ben."
She took a step closer.
She smiled up at him and whispered softly: "Don't be afraid. I feel it too…"
Shock registered in his face and then something strange happened.
Ben laughed.
Not a smile, not a chuckle. A fullblown laugh.
And it was a glorious sound.
He pulled her close and all but crushed her to his chest. His arms enveloped her and he kissed the top of her head.
"You really are something else, Scavenger." He said affectionately as he rested his cheek on her hair.
"I know." She replied, the sound muffled by the thick fabric of his tunic.
He took a deep breath and they stayed like that for a few moments, both enjoying the nearness of the other. Both having a moment of absolute peace.
Until he sighed deeply.
"I mean it, Rey." He said resolutely. "I can't keep this up. I need to see you."
She looked up in his eyes and felt a tiny tremor course through her.
Anticipation.
She nodded and said softly: "Where? When?"
He seemed surprised at her easy compliance.
"As soon as possible." He said. "Can you arrange a ship?"
She nodded.
"Leia said she would help us anyway she could. I only have to ask."
He frowned and sounded taken aback.
"She did?"
Rey smiled. "She did." She leaned back into his arms and looked up at him.
"She gave me a long lecture about how dangerous it was and all the things that could go wrong. And then she hugged me and told me she supported us and she would do whatever she could to help us."
The more she said, the more flustered he seemed.
"Your mother loves you very much, Ben." She said softly.
She witnessed him retreating in himself, going back to that unreachable place.
"I don't see how she could."
"I can." She simply stated.
His mouth parted in surprise and she suddenly realized she had spoken aloud.
She ducked her head, refusing to let him see the color rising in her cheeks.
"So, I can get a ship, but we'll need a place to go. Got any ideas?"
He was pensive, trying to figure out what in the galaxy her words were about. Hoping against hope, knowing it was pointless. This whirlwind of emotions was exhausting.
He looked at his surroundings and suddenly felt something. A presence. A guidance.
It whispered in his soul.
Naboo.
"Naboo." He said calmy. "We'll meet at Naboo."
"Naboo?" She exclaimed. "Ben, that is halfway across the galaxy!"
He looked at her. Again, that whisper in his soul…
Varykino.
"We'll meet at Naboo. At Varykino." He frowned as a memory floated back. "My family has an estate there. We could stay at the mansion for as long as we like."
Rey looked at him with surprise.
"You're serious." She stated.
"Yes, I am." He replied calmly. "No one has been there in years, but I know that there are still caretakers. It's still in fine condition, I'm sure, and all of the servants are sworn to secrecy when they are hired. It was a retreat for royalty, after all."
Her eyes wide, all she managed to say was: "Oh."
"Go to Leia. Ask her for the ship. When you're on board, disable your tracking systems and contact me. I'll send you the coordinates. I'll meet you there."
He watched her swallow and nod her head in agreement. He quickly brushed his lips against hers and then the contact was broken. He vanished into thin air.
She felt cold all of a sudden. Empty without his nearness. Alone.
She allowed herself a moment to gather her thoughts. She had been so close to telling him something she figured neither of them was ready to admit. So close.
She needed to watch herself really closely from now on…
She was suddenly overcome with a sense of urgency. Naboo was literally halfway across the galaxy. If she wanted to be with him, she'd better get going. Driven by an urge she could not fathom or deny, she simply spun on her heels and started running towards the base.
Upon her arrival, she saw Rose standing on the far side of the bridge.
"Rose!" Rey shouted out, earning quite a few startled glances her way.
She ignored them and swiftly crossed the distance.
"Hey Rey!" Rose said happily as she turned with more spring in her step than one would expect from someone who had been floating between life and death for weeks. It made Rey frown.
"Are you supposed to be out of bed yet?" she asked with concern in her voice.
"Oh pfu," Rose said with a gesture of her hand. "I've been in bed for too long as it is. I'm excited to be out and about again. I had to promise to take things slow for a few more days, but I'm sure I'll be fine." She said flippantly. "How can I help you, Rey?" she asked.
Rey swallowed and quietly asked: "Do you know where General Organa is?"
"Umm, yeah, they're having a meeting in the conference room."
"Right. Thanks Rose." She said, already turning in that general direction.
"Rey, wait!" Rose started, but Rey was already too far to respond.
Rey headed over to the conference room as if she were chased by a rathtar.
She knocked on the door and when she heard a muffled "Yes, come in?", she quickly opened the door. Several pairs of eyes stared at her with different expressions. Some were surprised, some were concerned, others were clearly annoyed.
She saw Finn, Poe and Leia look at her with concern though. She had to get this over with quickly.
"I'm sorry to interrupt General, but I have an urgent request." She started. When Leia's eyes narrowed almost imperceivably, Rey continued quickly.
"May I have a word with you?" her eyes darted over the other attending commanders and she added a hesitant: "Please?" to it.
Leia seemed to understand her. For she nodded and addressed the group.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Leia turned to her and met with her at the door. As soon as they were in close proximity, Leia searched her face.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Rey glanced at the group nervously.
"I need a ship." She whispered back.
"Now?" Leia's eyes nearly bugged out and her voice slightly rose.
Rey swallowed against the lump of fear lodged in her throat.
"Yes."
Leia regarded her with caution in her eyes.
"Leia, please!" Rey begged her. "I need to leave as soon as possible. It's important."
Leia's mouth flattened into a grim line and Rey saw so many similarities with Ben, it was uncanny.
"Are you going to see my son?" she asked bluntly, keeping her voice low so the others wouldn't overhear.
Rey fought the unreasonable fear she suddenly felt crawling across her skin.
What if she refuses? What if she goes back on her promise? Her thoughts raced and apprehension pricked at the back of her neck.
Leia stared at her. Resignation showed in those wise, dark eyes.
"Take one of the X-wings. The First Order barely tracks one-man fighters. If you try to stay under the radar, you should be safe enough. And take a datapad with you, so you can communicate if the necessity should arise." She sighed.
Rey's face blossomed into a huge smile. She let out a sigh of relief she didn't even know she was holding.
"Thank you, Leia!" Her eyes dances with excitement. "I'll be back before you know it!" she whispered and turned to leave when she felt Leia's hand on her arm. She looked back at the older woman and saw warmth and concern in weary eyes.
"Be careful, Rey." She whispered sadly. "And may the Force be with you. Always."
Rey smiled and nodded. She turned and all but skipped towards the small hangar where the ships were docked.
She was going to see him!
Ben stood in the middle of his chambers, gobsmacked by what had just transpired.
She had initiated another kiss and had agreed to meet him in person.
And what was the deal with that presence he had felt? Whose was it? What in the galaxy had made him think of Varykino? He hadn't been there since he was barely out of diapers…
But he had, and she had agreed, so he was definitely going.
Now.
He walked up to the intercom and made contact with the hangar's control center.
"Yes, Supreme Leader?" A voice sounded over a slight static.
He took a fortifying breath.
"Prepare my ship. I'm leaving on a mission."
"As you wish, Supreme Leader. We will have your ship and a squadron ready for you when you arrive." The androgyn voice sounded over the intercom.
He ground his teeth and blew out a deep breath. He hadn't thought of the mandatory squad that was on board in all situations.
"That won't be necessary. I'm heading out on a private mission. Alone. Prepare the TIE-Silencer instead of the Command Shuttle." He ground out. A short silence followed his remark.
"Of course Supreme Leader." Came through the intercom. "We'll have everything ready upon your arrival.
He ended contact and quickly left his chambers for the hangar.
He stomped through the hallway on the Finalizer.
He hadn't been this determined, this focused on anything since he had made up his mind to kill Snoke to save Rey.
The Supremacy was still under construction, progress was being made and they were right on schedule.
With every resounding thud of his heavy boots on the dark floors, his heart picked up its pace.
He looked fierce and intimidating, and the way he held himself made his subjects make themselves scarce upon sight.
He turned a corner and saw Hux standing at the end of the corridor, near the hangar he was headed for. Hux looked up and saw him.
Ben had trouble keeping his annoyance in check. He quickly switched to his Kylo Ren attitude as he approached.
"Supreme Leader." Hux started as he dismissed the Captain he was speaking with.
"General" Ren clipped. He simply kept walking. Hux, to his dismay, merely fell in step with him.
"I have been meaning to speak with you. I have received intel that could possibly…" Hux continued.
Ren interrupted him.
"General, this all sounds very interesting." He said curtly. "However, at this very moment, there are other matters I must attend to."
"But Supreme Leader, this is important!" Hux interjected. He continued in a petulant and disdainful voice. "It regards the location of the Resistance Base. We must act swiftly if we are to…"
Again, Ren interrupted him. They had reached the hangar and he could feel his impatience and anticipation grow with every second that passed.
"General!" He said sternly, with enough authority in his voice to startle both Hux and the officers on the hangar's command center. "I will hear everything you have to say upon my return."
The muscles around his mouth told Hux that the Supreme Leader was not in the mood to listen or to mince words.
"For now however, I have other, more urgent matters that require my attention. I'm sure the intel you received will survive a few more hours?" He asked with an arrogant lift of his brow.
Hux stared at him, contempt clear in that pale gaze. He did not, however, contradict him.
"Yes, of course not. Supreme Leader." But there was something about the ginger's stance that made Ren's teeth clench. Then again, anything and everything about this man irritated him.
He added in a very authorative voice: "I suggest you hold off any important decisions or action for the duration of my absence, General Hux. I will not be gone that long. I'm sure you will be able to contain your enthusiasm for that period of time. Now if you will excuse me."
He turned on his heel, ignored Hux's irritated gaze and walked directly to the Silencer that was already awaiting him, ready for take-off.
His hands trembled as he reached for the necessary buttons and his stomach did a slow roll.
Rey? He inquired softly, reaching out through their Bond.
Rey, are you there?
Yes I'm here, she replied.
Have you secured a ship?
Yes.
Good. I'm on my Silencer. Just head in the general direction of Naboo. I'll disable my tracker and I'll send you the specific coordinates in thirty standard minutes.
Allright. She said softly. I'll see you soon.
Okay.
He couldn't fight the smile that spread across his face.
He was going to see her!
